Leather-working machine.



G. ,V- ANDEBSUN. LEATHER WORKING Mmmm APPLIUATIUH FILED J'UL S0, 1908. l

Patented June 15, 1909.

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G. V. ANDERSON.

LEATHER woxma luolmrr.V u JJJLITIOI FILED ULYBU, 190B. 9241.873. Patented June 15,1909.

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G. V. ANDERSON. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE. Aprmonlon FILED JULY 29. 190s.

Patented June 15, 19l

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G. V. ANDERSON. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE. APrLmnIoN FILED JULY no. laos.

uw m .m m f m 4 .M m m P UNITED sTATEsrATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. ANDERSON, O1` WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO F. I".

SLOGOMB & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

LEATI-IllR-WORKING MACHINE To all whom fit 'may concem:

lic it known that I, GEORGE V. ANDEnsoN, n. citizen -of the United States, residing in the city of XVilmington, county of New Castle, State of Delaware, have invented a. new and useful Leather- Working Machine, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seasoning and leather working machines of. the type which are 'used for the spreading on and rubbing in of seasoning liquids, such as oilsand the like liquid compositions necessary in the process of finishing leather.

It has for an ob]ect to provide a machine in which the seasoning liquid is ap lied'to the skins, thoroughly worked,- rubb in and distributed uniformly and evenly over the entire surface so that there are no parts uncoated, or which are more heavily coated than others. i

It has for a further object to provide means to maintain the skin stretched out during its passage throurrh the machine so as to prevent any folds, w ich leave portions uncoated or uncolored.

It has fora still further ob'ect to provide. a cleaning mechanism where y a conveyor on which theskins are carried through the nnichine is kept free from all seasoning liquid `in order that there-may of the flesh' side of the skins coming in contact with any of the coat-ing material. It is well known that if the flesh side of the skins become splashed and coated in laces with the seasoning liquid, the value o Athe skin is depreciated accordingly.

It further consists of a conveyer mechanism adapted to successively carry a. plurality of skins into position to receive a quantity of scasonlng 1 quid which is worked into them by a plurality of brush structures 11ndergoing a movement simulating that of hund mani mlation. during which the liquid is thorouglly rubbed in and spread veryevenly over the surface of the skins and after which they are delivered to suitable drying mechanism, whereby the coating thus rubbed in is thoroughly dried.

Itfurther consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention. I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof. whichfjs at.; rees; ont .preferred tty-'mensince-the. sameihiasf ntf.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 29, 1908.

be. no danger` Patented .Tune 15, 1909.

Serial No. 446,029.

found in practice to give satisfactory and rellahle results, although it is to be uuder4 stood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists vcan be vuriously arranged and organized .a nd=that my, invention is not. limited to the precise alA rangenjicnt and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side-elevation of,f a; machine embodying, my. invention. 2' represents a plan of a portion of the same,l Fig. 3 represents an endelevation of the same. Fig.y 4 represents, a detail of# the brush operati,ngmechanism, Figa 5 re re-.- sents asetiori througlione of; thenbrii les. Eisf'lenreswts theiuidfsuprly means .and insect-ion through the, uid res# ervoir.A Eig.p 7 represents a Sectionthrough one of the fluid supply valves. l Eig. 8 ,represents a detail ofthe valve operatingreservoir. ,Figs ax 1 d 1 ()V represent detached viewsof'thefvalv disks. Eig, llrepresents, a sectiolnof a modiliedjorm of-,valve mech-` anisrn. Fig. 12 represents afdetai] ofthe closure for the same.l

Similard numerls ,cih reference indicate cor voni r sind'. 'ef r 1{ererngI. 1%o-' he .drawin sgz'u-l designates( the frame o my. novel lea ierV Workin machine, the Same supporting on suitable rings, a ldriving shaft 2, which 'carries thereon operating pulleys 3t ladapted to receive, power from any suitable source. The shaft 2. -also carries a sprocket wheel 4 alhxed` thereon and adapted to-drive through the medium of, a chain 5, alsecond sprocket` 6 secured to a shaft 7 extending transversely of the. machine` and su orted 1n bearings of the main frame 1. shaft 7 forms apivotal sup ort for side members 8 extendimg longitu inallyV-within the main frame l and bei-ngconnected at their outer ends by e table 9, whereby a movable structure is formed and which carries a conveyer mechanism consisting-of a roller 10 keyed to the shaft 7, aA second rollerV 11 mounted on a shaft 12 extending transversely between the side frames S and overwhich rollers passes a conveyer bolster 13 of any suitable material. In the preferred form the shaft 12 is mountedin slots leton the side members 8 and is udjustably held by means of :1 .collar 15 to Which-.issecured a threaded rod 16, throughi a* blmlt; ,.17 and fastened up r surface of the conveyer bo ter 13 an 52.5 designates a similar s et of idle roll- ?fQ-ers. on the op om'te side of said conveyer lbblsterl, but in substantial alinement with u rated and tend to propel any articles located be clear that as thc sprocket-'G rotates the shaft 7, the conveyer bolster 13 will be rothereon through the machine. Should any f, adjustment of the bolster be necessary, due lo its becoming too loose or too tight, the nuts 18 may be operated to move the shaft l2 farther from shaft 7 or closer thereto, as the case may be. 1 0 'lhe side frames 8 and table 9 are suported at the free end by means of cams 19 AExedly mounted on a shaft 20 which is adapted, in the present instance, to be adjustably supported by eye bolts 21 threaded 5 into the main frame 1. By means of the nuts 21 on the eye bolts the position of the cams relative to the side frames 8 may be changed as desired so as to bring-the table 9 and bolster 13 into proper engagement with to the brush structure, to be presently described.

22 designates a handle adapted to operate the:l shaft 20 and thereby swing the cams 19 toenga e the side frames 8 and raise and -glower t e table 9, as desired. It will be noted 'that the stop means are provided to maintain the handle in normal position, which referably consists of a pin 23 adapted to e inserted through the handle at a suitable point into the main frame'l.

designates a plurality of idle rollers suitably supported in close proximit to the the u per rollers 19, whereb as the skin is over the bolster it wil be held tightly and guided along the conveyer by these 4o frollers.

It will be noted that the idle rollers 24 and 25 are ositioned at some little distance above t e surface of the roller 11 so that a slight incline will be given to this portion of the bolster leading from the table 9 to the operating parts of the machine.

26 desi nates another set of idle rollers position intermediate the length of the machine and serving a similar purpose,

- while 27 designates a still further set of rollers located at the exit end of the machine and tending to properly guide the skin as it leaves the conveyer bolster 13. Thus it will be apparent that as each stri i of skin is placed on the table 9 and engage by the conveyer, that it will be gripped by the guide rollers 24 and 25 and held tightly at all points and pass forward to the o erating portion of the machine through w ich `fio'tilmbves and is maintained fiat and properly positioned by the intermediate rollers 26 and ajsit emerges from this portion of the macliiie it is taken care of in a similar manner g bythe-rollers 27 anddeliveredjreadyfor the wfxgionmtiml; ":dlfer t merivif 2S designates :l frame preferably supported above` thc conveyor bolster 13 :and in (he present instance is mounted for ost-Hlm. infr movement on the frame l by means ol' spindles 29 secured at convenient points und 7o passing through brackets 3() affixed to thev main frame 1. A bracing strut 3l is provided preferably nt the center of this frame and, as here shown, has connected to it` thc operating mechanism producing the oscillating movement. This operating mechanism, in the present combination, consists of' a rod 32 pivotally connected at one end to a lug 33, on the strut 3l, and at the other end, fastened to a crank pin 34 of a driven wheel S0 35 mounted on a countershaft 36, which receives power from a sprocket wheel 37 and chain 38 o erated from the main drive shaft. 2. l t willpbe clear that as the countersliaf.- 36 is rotated the rod 32, through the crank 85 connection, performs the function 'of a connecting rod and transmits a sliding movement to the frame 28, which thereupon oscillates above the conveyer belt in the desired manner.. d,'I"h,s,fra,me 28 is provided with a 90 support .forja rubbing device, which serves to spread o n and work in the leather seasoning mixture of oil or other liquid, and operates in connection with the oscillating of the frame to reduce a movement over the surface of the skin simulating as closely as possible the ordinary hand method of applying such liquids. This mechanism is a very important feature in my invention, since heretofore machines for appl in such seasoninlr have operated impe ect y, in that they lhave failed to work evenly over the surface of the skin and therefore certain portions receive a too heavy coatinr of the seasoning, while other portions either do notreceive any or it is entirely too lightly applied. Furthermore, such means have failed to do more than apply an irregular coating of seasoning material and there has been no working and rubbing in, which has made the hand o eratin process heretofore the most success ,ul anc efficient one. In the referred form this rubbing and sprea ing mechanism consists of a plurality of rotatable members, each comprising a spindle 39 115 carrying thereon at each end, a collar 4() secured, as desired, by the set screws 41 and having attached thereto a flange 42. This flange 42 is provided at suitable intervals, with slots 43, each adapted to receive the end of a brush body 44, to which are secured preferably a plurality of brushes 45, as here shown composed of some absorbent fabric, as felt or the like. These brush members are disposed between the flanges 42 of the lcollars andl in the present instance are placed in staggered relation with respect to the slots 43, that is to say the body member 4 4 is secured atonefldllyfaslot 43 of one foftlie*fiiengeianrlatitliedtliefbiidltosa meut to the rod 75 and thereupon all of the valve rods 7l are moved to open thqvalvc (313 lo ullow a flow of the seasoning material onto g lh'e brush rollers, under which the skin is l then brought. The frame 28 containing these brush rollers 45 is now receiving an oscillating movement from the crank connection 32 and carrying the brush rollers back and forth in order to spread and rub in the coating of seasoning liquid. During the oscillation of the roller frame 28 the bevel gears 52 and 53 are in mesh and the chain drives 48 and 49 keep all of the rollers revolving, a portion in one direction from the center and another in the other direction from the center. The skin passes beneath all of these brush rollers and receives a thorough distribution of the seasoning material, which is manipulated back and forth until the liquid is finally thoroiwhly worked into the skin.

f course it will be noted that the idle rollers 26and 27 maintain the skin drawn fiat and free from cracks and bends. It is apparent that during the reciprocating of the frame 28 that the bar 62 attached thereto is also reciprocated and thereby gives a sweeping movement to the mixing blades in the seasoning liquid, which is thus kept thoroughly mixed and stirred up. As the skin leaves the series of rollers it passes throughthe nal set of idle rollers, which deliver the skin to the brush roller 84 and are set so as to slightly retard 'the skin as it is delivered from the spreading rollers. It is now deposited upon a conveyer 88 and carried to the drying frame 87 through which it passes slowly and is subjected to currents of heated air and passes out com pletely dry. The actuating connections for these parts are of usual or suitable character Well understood by those skilled in the art and therefore not necessary to be shown and described herein.

The conveyer 13 after having delivered the skin is generally more or less coated with seasoning liquid which has splashed or run oil of the skin and therefore in order to properly dry and clean the same ready to receive another skin it is passed over the horizontally disposed brush roller 86 and wiped completely dry.

In so far as I am aware I am the first to provide a complete unitary structure for coating skins during the seasoning or like process, wherein the seasoning i spread over the surface of the skin in al uniform and even manner and at the same time that the spreading operation is taking place it is subjected to a rubbing and Working manipulation, which insures an effectual and efficient Working in of the said li uid.

In so far as I am aware I am the rst to i i provide a machine of the character above described in combination with a means for cleaning the oonveyer and removing therefrom all splashes of seasoning material so that thc iles-h side of the skin never comes in cout-.1ct with the liquid and is always deposited upon u clean brush surface.

It will now be apparent that I have devised u umel and useful construction which embodiesl the features o' advantage enumerated as desirable in the statexuentot the invention and the above description and While I have in the present instance shown and described in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described,

a conveyer, means for supplying a liquid to a skin on said conveyor, a frame adaptedbo be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, and

a plurality of rollers carried by said frame 9) to spread a liquid over said skin.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for supplying a liquid Ato a skin on said conveyer, a frame reciprocating transversely of said conveyer, and a 9.5

plurality of rollers carried by said frame for spreading said liquid on said skin. i

3. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for supplying a liquid 'to a skin on said conveyer, a frame adaptedtn be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, and rollers on said frame for spreading a liquid on said skin each of said rollers comprising a plurality of contacting surfaces.

4. In a machine of the character described, i

a conveyer, means for supplying a liquid to a skin on said conveyer, a frame adaptedto be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, and a plurality of rollers carried by said frame for spreading said liquid in opposite directions on said skin.

5. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for supplying a liquid to a skin on said conveyer, a frame adapted to be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, a series of rollers rotatably mounted on said frame for spreadin said liquid in opposite directions on said stin.

(i. In a machine of the character described,

on said conveyer, a frame adapted to be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, a series ofrollers on said frame for spreading said liquid on said skin, and means to rotate said rollers.

7. In a` machine of the character dcribed, a conveyer, means for sufpplying liquid to a skin on said conveyer, a rame adapted to be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, a plurality of series of rollers on sai quid is j a conveyer, means supplying liquid to a skin d frame for 132 l i i of this outlet valve, wherein the same funcl remain thereon the eiect upon this portion tions are performed with a less number of parts and in which 72 designates a tubular member adapted to be screwed into the tank 59 and having extensions 73 thereon to which a bolt 74 pivotally secures the rocking arm 71, the end of which in this case is formed to completely close the opening, when it is in closed position, over the tubu- 0 lar member 72. The rock arms 7l, in thc present instance, are each detachably con nected to a slide rod 75 by means of a pin 76 passing through an opening in the end of the arm 71, and into a corresponding open- 0 ing in the part 75. These pins 76 are, in the preferred form, secured by a iexible counection 77 to each arm 71 so that there is no danger of their becoming lost or detached. Throu h the medium of such a connection J foifeaci valve, it will be apparent that. any number of the valves may be connected for operation and just the right amount of {iuid bel drawn from the tank 59 and supplied to tlt'lskin. te lfidesignates a bell crank secured at one :J eid to the rod 75 and at the other by means of an adjustable connection to a rod 79, to n crank arm 8O fixedly secured to the shaft 2. As'the driving shaft 2 rotates movement will be transmitted through the connecting rod 7 9 to the bell crank 78 and produce an o en* ing and closing of the sets of outlet vaives, the adjustment of which is set so as to correctly time the opening of the li uid ports. "The adjustment of the bell cran( lever 78 allows also for a change of stroke of the arm 2" 71,as desired. 'j "81 designates a shaft suitably mounted for rotation adjacent the end of the conveyer '0 bolster 13, the same being driven by means of the usual sprocket wheel 82, chain 83 fromf the main driving shaft 2. This shaft 81 carries thereon and has securely fastened thereto, a brush roller 84, the periphery of 5 which is adapted to contact with the seasoned skin as 1t, leaves the conveyor and thus give a final spreading and rubbing in of the liquid before the skin is passed to the next in the process. A guard 85 partially ste i0 inc oses this brush 84 so as to prevent any waste of the seasoning liquid and which serves also as a collector for the same atY the end of the conveyer. A second brush 86 is rotatably mounted on the main driving :5` shaft 2 and in a position to engage the lower side of the conveyer on its return movement in order to clean the conveyor of any liquid which may have become improperlyl delivered or splashed thereon during the rubbing 'o process, It is very essential that some such means be provided for drying the conveyer i preparatory to receiving other skins, as it will-be noted that the skins are placed onof the hide or skin is very deleterious.

.87 designates a casing located in close proximity to the main frame 1 and having one end adjacent the delivery end of the conveyer 13. Suitably mounted within this casing is a conveyer chain 88 on which the seasoned skin is adapted to be deposited and carried through the casing 87 to an exit opening 89 therein. During the passing of 75 the skin through this casing 87 it is subjected to the drying process, the same being alccomplished, as here shown, by means of a" series of pipes 90 secured to headers 91, whereby a radiator is formed which is adapted to receive steam through one or the other of the pipes 92, one of which of course operates as an exhaust pipe. A fan .93 is located preferably above the radiator and is suitably journaled in a bearin 94 inthe 8,-, casing 87, the shaft 95 of said an having a driven pulley 96 thereon receivingpower from any suitable source. This fan operates to circulate aV supply of air over the steam pipes and into contact with the skin passin therethrough, which air is supplied throng the ports 97 of the casing 87. These ports 97 are adapted to be regulated by a slide valve 98 operated by a crank 99, manually or mechanically, as preferred. It will be clear that by means of this slide valve the air supply may be regulated as desired and the temperature of the drying chamber may be controlled.

It will be noted theta. plate 93 is postioned directly' in the path of the air circulated from the fan so as to prevent direct conta-ct of the dry air with the dampened skin passing through the d ing chamber, by means of which the air t roughout the chamber is uniforml distributed and the skin is much more quickl dried. It will be readily noted by those skilled in the art. that. the quicker a skin is dried the more beneficial will be the seasoning operation, since the evaporation of the liquids comprising the seasoning composition when lon r drawn ont, results in many of the essential e ements necessary to a first grade skin being evaporated therewith. l 1 15 The operation of the machine is as followsz-'lhe skin to be treated is placed on the table 9, which of course has been properly adjusted by means of the handle lever 22 and the driving mechanism and is .then moved into engagement with the conveyer bolster 13, which carriesl it up and into contact with the rollers 24. These rollers 24 cooperating with the rollers 25 rmly hold the skin against the bolster, thus preventing any crimping of the edge or bending, which would prevent pro er passage through the spreading rollers. V R''tlslrinis leaving this set of rollers 24 the reciprocation of the connecting rod 79 imparts an 0scillating-move ist oai-4,873 1 spreading liquid on said skin, and means to i means operated by said frame for stirring said liquid supply.

rotate said rollers.

8. In a machine of the character described,

a conveyer, means for supplying liquid to a skin on said conveyer, a frame adapted to 13. In a machine of the character described, a, conveyer, a frame adapted to be reciprocated adjacent thereto, a receptacle for supbe..reciprocated adjacent. said conveyer, a plying liquid to a skin on said conveyer,

series o rollers on said frame for spreadlng liquid on said skin in one direction, and a second series of rollers for spreading said liquid in the op osite direction, and means to rotate said ro 1ers.

9. In a machine of the character described,

.n.conveyer, a frame adapted to be reci rocated adjacent thereto, a lurality of ro lers n said frame, a receptac e for supplying a liquid to a sk1n carried by said conveyer, a plurality of valves for controlling said supply, and means to open and close said valves.

10. In a machine ofthe character described, a conve er, a frame adapted to be reciprocated a jacent thereto, means for su plying liquid to a skin on said conveyer, an means located at the exit end of said conveyer for drying said skin.

\ 11. In a machine of the character described,

emonveyerareceptacle adjacent thereto for supplyingV a liquld to a plurality of skins sgpcessively carried by said conveyer, and

means located at the exit end of said conveyer for drying said skin.

12. In a machine ofthe character described, ahconveyer, a frame adapted to be recipro- ,ed adjacent thereto, a rece tacle for supplying liquid to a. skin on sai conveyer, and

remainder of said rollers in the o posite direction, whereby said skin is even y sca soned and maintained at all points in contact with said conveyer.

15. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for supplying a liqui to a skin on said conveyer, a frame adapted to be reciprocated adjacent said conveyer, a plurality of rollers carried by said frame and mounted in parallel rows, and means to cause a number of said rollers to rotate in one direction and the remainder of said rollers in the oiposite direction, whereby said skin is evenly seasoned and maintained at all points in contact with said conve er.

GEORGE V. ANDER ON. Witnesses:

W'M. CANER VVIEDERSEIM,

C. D. MCVAY. 

